How do I become a Children’s Curriculum Developer?

A curriculum developer aids teachers by preparing them in the most recent techniques and educational approaches. They evaluate and revise curricula to keep current with up-to-the-minute technology and state and federal guidelines. Their curriculum development obligations demand them to travel to various schools to study teachers and to provide trainings. Their daily schedules carry out standard year-round operating hours. Because they work directly with teachers, it will be beneficial when they have excellent interpersonal communicators and if they have a teaching history.

Curriculum developers will work with teachers to do such things as order books and materials for instructional practice, they will also regularly observe teachers in order to make recommendations on changes that may increase the overall performance of students. They may also be involved in understanding and then interpreting state guidelines as well as possess the ability to make changes to school curricula.

Technology Advancements

A curriculum developer will need to have a grasp on technology, and will need to keep pace with advances occurring in order to provide classrooms with up-to-date instruction and development. While equipment ages, it is possible that you will need to authorize maintenance, repairs, and upgrades. When there is growth in the technology, it will be your job to examine whether or not that technology is to be integrated into the curriculum. A lot of positions will demand that you fully understand Adobe software and Microsoft Office. Additionally, you must know how to use the internet.

With these advances will come a significant change in the way teachers instruct and the way that students will learn. As much of the text will become digital, it’s imperative the curriculum developer stays connected and learns just how to incorporate technological advancements into the classroom.

Education Requirements:

For qualification, you must hold a master’s degree in teaching, curriculum, and information, or educational administration. You may also be required to hold a teaching license, as well as other certifications or licenses, determined by the state where you are employed. Certain private schools and adult remedial programs will not demand a teaching license for curriculum developers. Should you be working with middle school or secondary schools, you have to be specialized in a subject like geography, mathematics or English. You may even be expected to take continuing education training for the duration of your employment. Some educational institutions must have curriculum specialists with a Ph.D., or even a degree in medicine or law, but the majority will only require you to hold a Master’s Degree.

Educating teachers may be a big element of a curriculum developer’s job. At times, this instruction is scheduled for after-school groups and meetings. In other cases, you may instruct the teacher’s class and permit the teacher to observe a fresh teaching method. You need to feel comfortable guiding both pupils and teachers. A part of your teaching for teachers is going to be through mentoring.

As previously stated, working through this position can certainly require that you travel to the educational facilities for meetings and trainings. Reports suggest that any travel time will likely be limited.

Job Availability

It’s projected that by the year 2018, the number of curriculum developers will reach almost 165,000; a 23-percent increase in open positions. Individuals who are experts in mathematics, science and then reading are going to be in high demand. Those who represent the continuing education programs, students with special needs, as well as the programs devoted to English as a second language, will also be in a very high demand.

It’s proposed that the tremendous boost of growth will be as a result of changes that will be transpiring in education standards. Cutting edge curricula will have to be created to combine state and federal standards. Furthermore, teachers will need training with regards to how to apply these guidelines in their classrooms.

Salary Expectations

Salaries can vary with specific locations, and it usually depends on the school district’s financial constraints. It’s reported that the standard curriculum developer earns approximately $61, 000 annually, and the majority of these developers receive salaries ranging from $34, 000 to $91,000, roughly.

Promotion Potential

Typically, curriculum specialists start out their careers in teaching contracts or even in administrative positions. And informational coordinator, based on what experts suggest, may move to a higher administrative position or even depart from the education field altogether; opting to work in the private sector as a director or an executive. Curriculum developers can also write curricula for special education.

Work Setting:

In contrast to other educators, most do not have their summers off, as their program runs year-round. They can at times, be required to perform extended hours. A lot of curriculum developers often visit schools so that they can consult with administrators and teachers.

The curriculum developer will spend a considerable amount of time meeting with school administrators. When meeting with teachers, many curriculum developers will need to schedule their meetings before and after school, in order to accommodate a teacher’s availability. There may also be times that you will be responsible for choosing particular textbooks that are based on the curriculum that you’ve designed.

The overall goal for most curriculum developers is to raise standardized test scores when working at public schools. However, some concentrate on other fields like education for the gifted and talented. In efforts made to raise students’ test scores, curriculum developers may often be required to explain newer standards to teachers, and then to assist them in implanting these changes to their approach in teaching and delivering lesson plans.

Basic Skills Required:

The two major aspects of curriculum developers’ responsibilities are developing and planning curricula as well as mentoring teachers in discussing that information successfully. By doing this, you should possess a range of skills. With each and every job comes a number of opportunities to improve skills that you may already possess. While you evaluate all career options, consider the skills and talents you possess and also what you can do to develop any other additional abilities.

You will have to possess a faculty to communicate tactfully and clearly with other people. A big component of the job entails interpersonal communication. Quite a bit of the work will involve collaborating with teams, developing strategies, assessing current practices, and instructing people. In addition, you must be in a position to take criticism well, and then you’ll also need to have the ability to present constructive criticism when appropriate.

An added intangible skill that you will need is creativity, as it can often aid you in curriculum creation, training information, questionnaires as well as other instructional elements. Creativity is crucial in considering supplementary teaching methods; solutions to gauge the effectiveness of teaching patterns along with educating students and teachers.

Analytical abilities can be a significant attribute of a curriculum developer. You should be in a position to read the education standards and understand their meaning to decide whether the curriculum complies with the guidelines. Additionally, you will need to ascertain whether or not the curriculum is age appropriate and is in accordance with all students’ reading and comprehension levels.

Writing skills are an essential asset in curriculum development. Students and teachers can depend on the information you supply for their education and teaching experience. You may also be required to write grant proposals, as well as other technical reports. Together with the ability to write, you should be able to provide that information to the target audience to which you find yourself writing. You have to be structured and to the point in your choice of words.

A lot of positions will demand that you have teaching experience. This demand is often a useful skill as it can provide you with a lot more credibility whenever working with teachers to develop their instructing skills. It may also provide you with a much better perspective on why exactly the teacher is doing certain things. Administrative knowledge will help you to understand the objectives and overall functions of the institution.

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